Nietzsche's theory of the Superman influenced 19th century thought. In Crime and Punishment, Dostoyevsky expresses disapproval of this theory through characters Razumikhin and Raskolnikov, and the plot. Razumikhin rejects Raskolnikov's claims that extraordinary individuals can commit crimes. Though Raskolnikov aims to prove he is a Superman, he fails, feels guilt, and comes to believe in Christianity instead. The novel emphasizes Dostoyevsky's view that the Superman theory is improbable.

2. Nietzche’s Superman
 Nietzche developed the theory of the Superman , or
Übermensch, in Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883)
 Influential theory in 19th century Western society
 did not influence Dostoevsky; Eastern Europeans rejected
Western influence
 He rejected religion as a response to nihilism, which argues
life is without meaning
 Superman created to provide values for humans to strive
for not based in religion and rooted in real people
 He rejected religious idea that suffering brings a happier
afterlife

3. Who is the Superman?
 Rejects values he/she finds in outside world in favor
of what they personally think is right
 Brings new ideas or things to the world
 Responds to the idea that life is without meaning
by constantly overcoming him/herself, never stops
becoming better
 Provides ideal for people to strive and ultimately
live for

4. Thesis
In Crime and Punishment Dostoyevsky
expresses his disapproval of the superman
theory through the characters Razumikhin
and Raskolnikov and the plot of the novel.

5. Razumikhin
 Dostoevsky portrays Razumikhin as a sympathetic
and reliable character
 Always there for Raskolnikov
 “Twice I’ve brought Zosimov to see you” (144).
 “I vouched for you, brother, do you hear that?”
(152).
 Buys him clothes (156-157)
 Razumikhin= “reason”
 The reader is supposed to accept what he says as
true

6. Razumikhin (cont.)
 Reactions to Raskolnikov’s article:
 “’What? What on earth? A right to crime?’” (307)
 “What the devil! This can’t be right!” (308).
 “’What are you both doing- playing jokes, or
something?...Are you being serious, Rodya?’” (313)
 “ ‘…it couldn’t possibly have been… that you
considered yourself… to be on eof the extraordinary
people?’ ‘I wouldn’t rule it out, said Raskolnikov
answered, contemptuously. Razumikhin made a
movement” (315).

7. Raskolnikov’s Superman
Theory
 “An ‘extraordinary’ person has a right…not
an official right, of course, but a private one,
to allow his conscience to step across
certain…obstacles, and then only if the
execution of his idea (which may occasionally
be the salvation of all mankind) requires it”
(308)

8. Raskolnikov’s Superman
Theory (cont.)
 “Newton could not on any account…have become
known to people other than by means of sacrificing the
life of one person, the lives of ten, a hundred men or
even more persons who were trying to interfere with
those discoveries or stand as an obstacle in their path,
then Newton would have had the right, and would
even have been obliged…to get rid of those ten or a
hundred persons, in order to make his discoveries
known to all mankind”(309).

9. Raskolnikov
 Unreliable Voice
 Raskolnikov- “Schism”
 Indecisive
 Cannot trust
 Crazy
 Razumikhin
 “I say, you’re seriously ill, do you know that?” (135)
 “Hey, you’re out of your mind! Despot!” (237)
 Room- symbol of Raskolnikov’s mind
 Murderer

10. Plot
 Raskolnikov fails to prove he is a superman
 Emphasizes Dostoyevsky’s viewpoint
 Supermen offer new ideas
 “If one were to kill her and take her money… wouldn’t one
petty little crime be atoned for by all those thousands of
good deeds?” (80)
 Supermen get things done
 “Oh God! How loathsome all this is! And could I really, could I
really… No, it’s nonsensical, it’s absurd!” (12)

11. Plot (cont.)
 Raskolnikov admits he’s not a superman
 “I killed the principle, but I didn’t step over it, I remained on the
side of it” (326).
 Feels Guilt
 “I told you yesterday that I wouldn’t come to ask for
forgiveness, and yet very nearly the first thing I did was ask you
for forgiveness” (487-488).
 Believes in Christianity
 “She never once offered him a new Testament. He himself had
asked for it… Until now, he had never opened it” (656).

12. Conclusion
 Dostoyevsky stresses his point about the
improbability of the superman theory through
Razumikhin’s reason and disapproval,
Raskolnikov’s insanity and unreliable nature,
and Raskolnikov’s inability to prove his own
theory to be legitimate.

13. Discussion Questions
 Do you agree/disagree with
Dostoyevsky’s opinion? Why
or why not?
 Raskolnikov focused on
violent/negative aspects of the
superman. Are there other
traits that are positive of the
superman?
 Compare contrast our
society's morality (American)
to 19th century Russian
culture's morality. What traits
are universal?

14. Works Cited
Bradley, Derek. “Neitzche.” Homepage.
Michigan State University. Web. 16 October
2011.
Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment.
London: Penguin Books, 2003. Print.